Why MEA-MFT opposes CI-105

CI-105 is bad for Montana’s people. That’s what locally elected delegates -- MEA-MFT members from around the state – decided at MEA-MFT’s annual Representative Assembly in Billings March 26-27.

After discussion and debate, delegates voted to recommend AGAINST CI-105.

“The more closely we investigate this initiative, the more dangerous it looks,” said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver. “That’s why MEA-MFT has decided to work with others in the state to get the message to Montana voters. We are using money from our Ballot Initiative Fund to pay for radio and TV ads so Montanans can hear both sides of the issue.”

Money in the Ballot Initiative Fund consists entirely of the voluntary contributions of MEA-MFT

members.

It’s a David vs. Goliath endeavor. MEA-MFT is spending just $45,000 on radio and TV ads explaining why CI-105 is dangerous and unnecessary. By contrast, an out-of-state special interest group from Chicago, the National Assoc. of Realtors, is spending nearly $3 million, saturating households across the state with glossy mailers and TV and radio ads.

“Hearing and seeing only one side of the argument, voters can be led to vote against their own best interests,” Feaver said. “CI-105 is clearly against Montanans’ interests. We don’t have $2 million to counter CI-105, but if we did, I am confident Montana voters would vote NO.”

Here are the facts on CI-105:

The National Assoc. of Realtors is spending millions to change Montana’s constitution for the benefit of one group alone: realtors.

CI-105 would amend the Montana Constitution to make it illegal to have any real estate transfer tax.

Montana does not have a realty transfer tax. We are one of 13 states without such a tax.

If CI-105 passes, the realty transfer tax would be the only tax specifically prohibited in our constitution. CI-105 would declare one segment of our economy a tax-free zone at the expense of all other segments.

CI-105 could raise our property and income taxes, and make it harder to fund public schools and public safety (fire & police).

To constitutionally prohibit a tax that does not exist invites other special interests to carve out constitutional protections for themselves as well — leaving the rest of us to pay for good public schools and public services.

Montana’s constitution establishes our most fundamental rights -- like the right to bear arms and the right to privacy -- and articulates the most fundamental principles or our democracy. Detailed tax policy should be handled through legislation, not the constitution.